Indonesian ‘wants friendship with everybody,’ President Prabowo tells Russia forum

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said Friday his country “wants friendship with everybody” as he clarified his decision to skip the G7 summit in Canada to visit Russia, saying it was a matter of an early commitment.

"I was asked why I did not attend the G7, but I attended the St. Petersburg Forum 2025," he said in addressing the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025).

"It's not because I did not respect the G7, it's because I gave my commitment to attend this forum before they (G7) invited me," Prabowo said as he shared the stage with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin hosted Prabowo a day earlier for talks during which the Indonesian president thanked Russia for its support to become a member of the BRICS bloc.

“That's the only reason. So, please don't read too much into the event,” Prabowo stressed. “We want to be friends with everybody.”

He said Indonesia’s foreign policy has been to remain non-aligned.

During the SPIEF, Indonesia officially concluded substantive negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), marking a significant milestone in its economic diplomacy with Russia and the broader Eurasian region, the Jakarta Post reported.

The agreement was formally acknowledged during the meeting between Prabowo and Putin at the Konstantinovsky Palace on Thursday.

“I am very pleased with the agreement reached between Indonesia and Russia through our role in the Eurasian Economic Union,” Prabowo said.

The FTA, involving EAEU member states Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, is expected to unlock new trade and investment opportunities.

*Writing by Aamir Latif